142 TRAINING. 



PHYSICKING. 



The same kind of remark is applicable here as un- 

 der " SWEATING." If in good condition, and no soft 

 flesh, when put into training, the one dose at the 

 commencement will generally be all that is required. 

 The shok that some people have for physicking a 

 month or so before the races, not because the horse 

 is, but because they are afraid of his becoming too 

 plethoric, is the cause of many overthrows and breaks- 

 down. Whatever arguments you may hear to the 

 contrary, this is not the time for preventive physic. 

 The giving daily laxatives also at this stage, and that 

 without a sufficiency of bran mashes, is not only equal- 

 ly censurable, but dangerous and bad, fatal gripes of- 

 ten coming on just when the physic might have been 

 expected to operate.* A craving, large barreled, 

 deep ribbed, strong horse, and that has to run a long 

 race, may sometimes need a couple of doses of pur- 

 gative physic, besides sweats, during a four months' 

 training, hi order to prevent him growing stale in his 

 body, or round in his legs ; but a slight, hot, irritable, 

 or weakly one, is not to have every fibre pulled to 

 pieces by drastic physic, even if he does throw up 

 flesh too quickly : three of the alterative balls, p. 74, 

 one every other day, with a couple of gentle sweats, 

 a week between each, will suit much better ; and he 

 will then come to the post in better order, and run 

 under greater advantage than if more purgatives or 

 laxatives had been administered ; besides, it is two to 

 one against physic at this time having the exact effect 



* It is incredible what extraordinary things some persons do in train ing, 

 which had I not witnessed, I should not have thought of mentioning them. 



